Famed Broadway actress Carlotta Lee has been in a string of flops which is not only hurting her professionally but in the pocketbook. Peter Lawrence is a powerful New York "man about town" gossip columnist and occasional radio host. Carlotta and Peter grew up together in "the 'hood" when they were just Charlie and Pete, they who were once engaged before they both earned their fame. Regardless of their history, Pete is not averse to giving Charlie unsolicited advice via the column all in an effort for her to do what he thinks is right for her. When he learns that an old childhood friend, Buckteeth O'Toole, has just died in a workplace accident leaving his two children, thirteen year old Mike and adolescent Jake, orphaned, Pete uses his platforms to try and find someone to adopt the pair instead of sending them to an orphanage where they would probably be eventually separated. Needing a little publicity, Jimmy Slattery, Charlie's press agent, unilaterally decides a good stunt would be for Charlie to adopt the children, of which she is not aware until surrounded by press and the children themselves. Pete can see the stunt for what it is, which is not in the best interest of the children. Getting over the fact of Mike and Jake being ragamuffins albeit kindhearted ones, Charlie and the children bond leading to Charlie having a change of heart in ending up truly wanting to be mother to the two. Charlie and Pete get into one misadventure after another in Charlie trying to keep the children and Pete trying to take them away, with Mike and Pete not wanting to hurt either in the process.